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It was supposed to be just another day for George McKimmons, a fresh-faced recruit who had joined the Evanston Fire Department on December 13, 1905. Little did he know that this very day would forever mark a tragic chapter in the history of the department. Just the night before, Mayor John Barker had announced Carl Harrison's appointment as the new Chief Fire Marshal, succeeding Norman Holmes. Harrison, however, wasn't eager to start his new role on the "unlucky" 13th and requested a delay until the next day. So, Acting Chief Jack Sweeting prepared to lead the department one last time.
That afternoon, disaster struck. A fire broke out at the Mark Manufacturing Company, a major employer in Evanston with over 1,000 workers. Located at 1900 Dempster Street, the factory produced wrought-iron pipes and consisted of multiple buildings. At noon, crude oil leaked from a pipe in the socket room and caught fire. Employees were quickly evacuated, but the flames spread rapidly.
When the fire trucks arrived, they found themselves facing a daunting challenge. Water pressure was weak due to the factory's distance from the city center, and the single steam fire engine could barely manage two hoses. Acting Chief Sweeting ordered Truck Company 1 to enter from the north side, while Engine Company 1 aimed a hose from the southeast corner. Despite these efforts, the situation worsened.
An explosion rocked the building, causing part of the south wall to crumble. Firefighters scrambled to safety as another, even more powerful blast brought down the east wall. Three brave men—William Craig, George Stiles, and Edward Johnson—were trapped beneath the debris. Craig was pulled out alive but succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Stiles, though found unconscious, didn’t survive either.
In the chaos, rookie firefighter George McKimmons played a crucial role in rescuing Craig. Meanwhile, other firefighters managed to free Stiles, despite his critical condition. Tragedy struck again when another explosion injured several more firefighters, including Thomas Watson, Edward Johnson, and Jack Eckberg. Even the usually resilient Joseph Steigelman narrowly avoided worse injuries.
The fire department battled the inferno until reinforcements from the Chicago Fire Department finally arrived. By then, the Mark Manufacturing Company had suffered $115,000 in damages, losing its pipe mill entirely and damaging other structures beyond repair. It would take nearly 80 years before another firefighter met such a fate in Evanston.
George McKimmons continued serving the department until 1915, later rising to captain in the Chicago Fire Department. His legacy lived on through his brother Dan, who retired as a lieutenant after 31 years of service. The events of that fateful day left an indelible mark on everyone involved, a reminder of the dangers faced daily by those who answer the call.